CJ Soul: Innovation Is The Key To Success

“I believe the future of music will belong to the artists … We, as artists, can’t be afraid to push boundaries and challenge ourselves to be more creative.”

Check out the interview with CJ Soul exclusively on Skilly Magazine Online.

Skilly: How were you able to start your journey in the entertainment business? Where did this all start?
CJ Soul: Oddly enough, it started when my sister and I were kids. We would write comedy sketches with our friends and perform them for the adults in the family. As we got older, we incorporated music parodies. That’s when I started getting into writing music and rapping.

What are some of the creative ways you use to promote your music?I’ve done social media ads; private messaging fans and djs, blog submissions, and showcases; featuring on mixtapes; and also I’m always networking. I’m constantly meeting DJs, artists, filmmakers, etc. who I can work with in promoting each other.

What is the greatest challenge you face in today’s entertainment business? How do you overcome them?The greatest challenge I face is getting the right ears to my music. I feel like the way to overcome that is to put myself in circles of people who are doing what I’m doing, but at a much higher level. That opens up networking opportunities and conversations with people who have done what I’m attempting to do.

How is the music scene like in your hometown? What do you like about it and what don’t you like?The thing I love about the scene in Los Angeles can, at times, also be one of my biggest challenges. I love that there are so many creative people making great music and so many talented artists I can potentially work with. It’s also a challenge because the market is over saturated with artists, I have to continue to improve and find ways to set myself apart.

Where do you think the future of music is going to be? How do you feel artists can be more a part of it?I believe the future of music will belong to the artists. Artists are starting to dictate the direction music is going. And that’s how it should be. We, as artists, can’t be afraid to push boundaries and challenge ourselves to be more creative.

What advice can you give to other upcoming artists and musicians trying to achieve success?When it comes to accomplishing anything, I’ve always taken the same steps: Figure out what you want, find out how to get it, and then take action. Success is relative to the individual. You have to be clear in what your goals are and what you want to achieve. Then you have to find out how to achieve those goals.

What inspires you to write your next song?Just the love for making music inspires me to write. I don’t need to get in a certain mood or mode. I live in it. I’m always ready to write a song.

What are the steps you take to make a song?I go into every song with an open mind. I try to keep my mind free and my thoughts out of the picture as I’m writing or making a beat. I’ll tighten it up after it’s finished coming through.

What do you think makes a great song?It’s all about how you feel when you listen to it. When a song triggers a particular emotion no matter what the current one is, you’ve got something special. Those are the songs that make a difference in people’s lives.

Where can we connect with you? Can you give us your social media links and where we can contact you?Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/cjsoul
Facebook: iamcjsoul
Twitter: @cjsoul